Fiction Pick of the Week: Secrets of Eden

Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian 2010

Bohjalian’s latest book could be easily classified as a murder mystery. A husband and wife are found dead—murder/suicide-- in a small Vermont town. In the quaint, rustic town, the locals begin to learn why Alice was murdered, but why on that day? What caused George to strangle her on the day of her baptism? Did he commit suicide? Some of the main characters: Reverend Stephen Drew; Ginny, the devoted friend; the visiting author, Heather Laurent, who writes about angels; the Deputy State’s Attorney, Catherine Benincasa and the townspeople explore many stories while guarding many secrets. The crime scene, however, is not the real focus, but the means to explore the subject of spousal abuse, childhood victims, and family secrets. What is the difference between grief and mourning? Why is it that a sudden family tragedy leaves no time “to build that seawall…having no time even for sandbags.” This is a masterful tale of intrigue, and just when you think you know these characters, they say: “Believe no one. Assume all of our stories are suspect”.